Category Archives: Living in the UK

The Great Frost of 1709 – An Extraordinary Winter Event

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The Great Frost (as it was known in England) or Le Grand Hiver (as it was known in France) was an extraordinarily cold winter in Europe in late 1708 and early 1709, and was found to be the coldest European … Continue reading →

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Living in Regency Era London ~ Lighting the House

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Living in Regency London – Lighting the House Today, I have have dealt with three power outages in my area, and with each, I have privately cursed how dark is my home without the power of electricity. I have had … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

The “French” Influence on the Regency Period

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

With George III’s first bit of madness in 1788 to the death of George IV in 1830, the world experienced the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna, and the Age of Reform. England found itself inundated with … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, fashion, George IV, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Napoleonic Wars, political stance, Regency era, Regency personalities | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Great Storm of 1703 ~ A Blow to the British Navy!

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The Great Storm of 1703 was one of the most severe storms or natural disasters ever recorded in the southern part of Great Britain. The storm came in from the southwest on 26 November 1703 (Julian calendar) or 7 December … Continue reading →

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The Devil’s Footprints, a Devon Area Victorian Mystery

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The Devil’s Footprints is a name given to a phenomenon that occurred in February 1855 around the Exe Estuary in East Devon and South Devon, England. After a heavy snowfall, trails of hoof-like marks appeared overnight in the snow covering … Continue reading →

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UK “Real” Estate: Tower Hill

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The traditional East End of London plays a role in my latest Work in Progress, a cozy mystery with lots of twists and turns. Tower Hill is important to the story’s climax. Tower Hill is an elevated spot northwest of … Continue reading →

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UK Real Estate: Greenland Dock

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

In my current WIP (Work in Progress) one of the characters works in the timber business at Greenland Dock. Here is some interesting facts about Greenland Dock: Greenland Dock is the oldest of London’s riverside wet docks, located in Rotherhithe in … Continue reading →

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Georgian Era Thief Taker General, Jonathan Wild

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Between 1674 and 1829, a British citizen witnessing a crime was legally obliged to apprehend the perpetrator if possible. At a minimum, one was expected to report the crime to a magistrate or other law official. The witness was also … Continue reading →

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What is the Difference Between Heir Apparent and Heir Presumptive?

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

In my latest WIP (Work in Progress), one of the important characters is the “heir presumptive” to his brother. What does that mean, and how does it differ from “heir apparent”? In my story, Horace Lovelace is the third son … Continue reading →

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The Hammersmith Ghost: Legal Precedent in the UK Regarding Self-Defence

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The Hammersmith Ghost murder case of 1804 set a legal precedent in the UK regarding self-defence: whether someone could be held liable for their actions even if they were the consequence of a mistaken belief. Near the end of 1803, … Continue reading →

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